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US 8,833,007 B2Granted
Modular floor tile connectable with another modular floor tile to form an area mat that resists separation during use
AssigneeMMI Anderson Company, LLC
InventorsWilliam Leon Tillery, Walter Robb Andersen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular floor tile comprising a substrate having a first land with a support surface and first and second perimeter portions each defining a second land with a surface recessed relative to the support surface, the first and second perimeter portions each defining spaced-apart T-lugs and alternating T-recesses, whereby two tiles join together by the T-recesses of a first tile receiving respective T-lugs of a second tile, and the support surface supporting footwear remote from the second land to avoid scuffing against the joined T-lugs and T-recesses which resist separation of adjacent tiles during use.
Claims28
A floor tile, comprising:
- a substrate with a length and a width exceeding a depth and having a back surface and an opposing top layer, the top layer having a central portion and at least opposing first and second marginal perimeter portions,
- the central portion defining a first land with a support surface,
- the first and second marginal perimeter portions each defining a respective second land with a surface recessed relative to the support surface;
- and
- the at least opposing first and second marginal perimeter portions each have a respective side edge from which a plurality of T-lugs project in spaced-apart relation and alternating with a plurality of T-recesses defined in the respective side edge configured for mating reception of the T-lugs of another floor tile, the T-lug comprising:
- a main leg projecting from the side edge,
- a cross-leg substantially perpendicular to the main leg at a distal end
- thereof, and
- two end legs extending at opposite ends of the cross-leg,
- each of the two end legs defining an abutment extending towards the side edge and the T-recess defining a pair of notches each conforming in shape to an abutment,
- whereby a plurality of the floor tiles join together by the T-recesses of a first one of the floor tiles matingly receiving a respective one of the T-lugs projecting from a second one of the floor tiles, with each notch receiving a respective one of the abutments whereby the contacting edges of the abutment and the notch resist relative movement of the first and second floor tiles,
- whereby the support surfaces of adjacent connected floor tiles support footwear or wheeled traffic of a user thereon remote from the second land of the marginal perimeter portions.
9 more elements
A method of forming a floor tile, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a substrate with a length and a width exceeding a depth and having a back surface and an opposing top layer with a central portion and at least opposing first and second marginal perimeter portions;
- (b) defining in the central portion a first land with a support surface;
- (c) defining in each of the first and second marginal perimeter portions a respective second land with a surface recessed relative to the support surface;
- (d) providing the at least opposing first and second marginal perimeter portions each with a plurality of T-lugs projecting from a respective side edge in spaced-apart relation and alternating with a plurality of T-recesses defined in the respective side edge and configured for mating reception of the T-lugs of another floor tile,
- each of the T-lugs comprising:
- a main leg projecting from the side edge,
- a cross-leg substantially perpendicular to the main leg at a distal end
- thereof, and
- two end legs extending at opposite ends of the cross-leg,
- each of the two end legs defining an abutment extending towards the side edge and the T-recess defining a pair of notches each conforming in shape to an abutment;
- the alternating T-lugs and T-recesses of the first marginal perimeter portion offset relative to the alternating T-lugs and T-recesses of the second marginal perimeter portion, whereby a T-recess in the first marginal perimeter portion opposes a T-lug in the second marginal perimeter portion;
- whereby a first floor tile matingly connects to an adjacent second floor tile upon the T-recesses of a first one of the floor tiles matingly receiving a respective one of the T-lugs projecting from a second one of the floor tiles, with each notch receiving a respective one of the abutments whereby the contacting edges of the abutment and the notch resist relative movement of the first and second floor tiles,
- whereby the support surfaces of adjacent connected tiles support footwear or wheeled traffic of a user thereon remote from the second land of the marginal perimeter portions while the matingly engaged T-lugs and T-recesses resist separation of adjacent tiles during use.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.